Top 15 Seattle-Area Family Activities for July 2025

Boasting the best of what summers in the Northwest have to offer — long, warm days and lots of unscheduled free time — July doesn’t disappoint! Since I know you won’t want to waste a minute, I have the goods on fairs, farms, fests, parades, performances and plenty of outdoor play for a memorable summer break in the making. 

1. Budget saver movies. Treat the kids to a daytime movie in an air-conditioned theater, always a winner on a hot summer day. It’s a budget-saver as well thanks to cheap movies from AMC, Regal and Cinemark, happening Monday through Thursday mornings this summer. Book your $1–$3 tickets online at a participating theater. 

2. Shoestring Circus. The circus is coming to town! Head to the big tent and witness stunning feats of balance, daring acrobatics and comedy by the captivating Shoestring Circus, a Belllingham-based troupe of talented performers. Shows take place Friday–Sunday, June 27–29 and Thursday–Sunday, July 3–6 in Olympia’s Swantown. Tickets are $34.50 for teens and adults and $17 for kids ages 3–12. Ages 2 and younger are free. 

3. Fourth of July celebrations. Have a blast celebrating the Fourth of July with all the spectacle you can handle in nearly every town in the Pacific Northwest. Do your plans include staying up late to witness the skies light up with fireworks? If that’s not compatible with your family’s weeknight bedtime, don’t fret — there are plenty of fun-filled daytime fests as well. 

4. Snoqualmie Pass chairlift ride. The Snoqualmie Pass ski area is not just for snow bunnies and boarders. During the summer, chairlifts provide a super-scenic ride up the side of the mountain for a memorable family outing. Book your tickets to enjoy as many round-trip rides as you like on the Pacific Crest Chair. Yodeling optional. Weekends through Labor Day; Tickets $23 for teens and adults; $17 youth ages 6–12 years; ages 5 and younger are free. 

5. Redmond’s Derby Days. Cycling fans, check out Redmond’s Derby Days for a summer festival focused on two-wheelers. In addition to activities including parades, carnival rides, entertainment and a drone show, the heart of this fest is bicycle racing at the velodrome. Kids also get the chance to try out riding the track. Events take place Friday–Saturday, July 11–12. Free. 

6. Day Out With Thomas. Everyone’s favorite “Steamie” has returned! Catch a ride on a train car pulled by Thomas the Tank Engine, as he comes to life at Snoqualmie’s Northwest Railway Museum during this summer’s Day Out With Thomas: The Party Tour. Meet Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy a bouncy racetrack, live music and photo ops during your time in “Sodor.” Book your tix now for the following dates: July 11–13, 18–20 and 25–27. Tickets cost $32; babies younger than age 1 ride free. 

7. Extra-low-tide days. Discover marine critters who normally live under the cover of seawater at a local beach on extra-low-tide days as you walk, inspect, touch (gently!) and learn more about what you see from trained beach naturalists. Programs take place at beaches up and down shorelines in Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma and Federal Way on select dates throughout the summer starting July 11. 

8. The King County Fair. A treasured summer tradition, is back! The King County Fair, the oldest fair west of the Mississippi, boasts old-school fun like barrel racing, carnival rides, lumberjack shows and rodeo — not to mention the yummy fair food. Find all this fun at the Enumclaw Fairgrounds, Thursday–Sunday, July 17–20; tickets $10–$15, some activities have an additional fee. 

9. Seafair Indian Days Powwow. Experience Native food, music, arts and dancing at the annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow which gathers local Native tribes and those from across the continent to celebrate and showcase their varied traditions. Events take place Friday–Sunday, July 18–20 at Daybreak Star Center in Discovery Park. To help support tribal programs, admission is pay what you are able. 

10. SandBlast Festival of the Arts. Marvel at next-level creations of a summer staple—the magnificent sandcastle! Head to the scenic Snoqualmie River where McCormick Park hosts Duvall’s SandBlast Festival of the Arts and check out master sand carver creations. You’ll also find music, art and food. Join the free festivities Saturday–Sunday, July 19–20. 

11. Seafair Chinatown Parade. Line the streets of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District for the annual Seafair Chinatown Parade and catch a glimpse of the 100-foot dragon and Chinese Community Drill Team among the participating performance groups. It’s a fantastic way to experience the sights and sounds of this vibrant neighborhood. The parade takes place Sunday, July 20. 

12. Children’s Film Festival. Dive into a whole different world of cinema with over 50 imaginative and entertaining feature films and shorts from around the globe, selected by kids. Now a summer affair, this year’s Children’s Film Festival features 2-hour film blocks for a smaller, more accessible experience. The festival runs July 23–27. Various show times. Ticket prices are $15 adults and $5 children. 

13. BAM Arts Fair. An Eastside summer favorite, the award-winning arts and crafts BAM Arts Fair returns and welcomes kids for free hands-on art projects, games and activities at the youth-oriented portion of the fair. Just-for-kids highlights include a chalk art station, live performances and ongoing craft stations. The fun takes place Friday–Sunday, July 25–27. 

14. Dance at Auburn’s Mary Olson Farm. Get ready for some toe-tapping fun — it's a barnyard dance at Auburn’s Mary Olson Farm! Enjoy burgers and line dancing at this historic site where your crew can get a peek at local family farm life of the late 1800s. Learn to rope and meet barnyard friends! Join for free, Saturday, July 26. Preregister. 

15. MOSAIC. For a weekend of international delights, bring the family to MOSAIC, Tacoma’s engaging and inspiring celebration of the area’s cultural diversity. The free fest includes performing and visual arts, crafts and food from cultures around the world, plus activities just for kids. Head to Wright Park Saturday–Sunday, July 26–27.  

Editor’s note: This article is updated every month by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, with her favorite new family activities in and around Seattle. It was most recently updated on June 26, 2025 with all new July events. All event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor. Be sure to come back next month!